Tag Archives: roller coaster

Queens youngsters took the borough’s first roller coaster for a spin last week during the grand opening of a new amusement park at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

The park “has been one of Queens’ premier recreation destinations ever since its creation for the 1939 World’s Fair,” said Park Administrator Janice Melnick.

Fantasy Forest opened up its five rides, including the iconic Flushing Meadows Carousel, during a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 29.

Officials said the classic ride, made by merging two Coney Island carousels, was originally created for the 1963-1964 World’s Fair. It is the largest carousel in Queens.

“We are excited to provide this family attraction, the only amusement park in Queens, to the family and people of Queens,” said Director Ami Abramson of NY Carousel, which runs the merry-go-rounds at Forest Park and Flushing Meadows.

Fantasy Forest is located at 111th Street and 55th Avenue. It is open daily at 11 a.m. through August and will stay open on select days in September and October.

A carousel will spin and a coaster will hurtle later this month when Queens gets its own amusement park.

Fantasy Forest, a new family attraction at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, has already opened most of the five rides there, including a train and the borough’s only roller coaster.

The amusement park’s grand opening is slated for May 25.

The small facility will feature the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel as the main attraction.

The classic ride, made from the merger of two Coney Island carousels, was created for the 1963-1964 World’s Fair, officials said. It is the largest carousel in Queens.

“We are truly thrilled to introduce this wonderful family attraction where our guests will come to make great memories and have lots of fun,” said Director Ami Abramson of NY Carousel, which runs the carousels at Forest Park and Flushing Meadows.

“We hope Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel is home to the first coaster every child in Queens ever rides,” Abramson added.

The park is at 111th Street and 55th Avenue. It is open daily at 11 a.m. through August and will remain open for certain days in September and October.